Signal apparatus



May-14, 1929. J. w BRYCE SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1924 55 time tape 20.

Patented May 314, 1929.

UNITED STATES JAMES W. BRYCE, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, TIME RECORDING COMPANY OF NEW YORK, F

PORATION OF NEW YORK.

ASSIGNOR '10 INTERNATIONAL ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A COR- SIGNAIL APPARATUS.

Application filed December 28, 1924. Serial No. 757,580.

The presentinvention is directed to improvements in the signal system shown in the copending application of T. J. Watson,

Serial No. 749,601 filed Nov. 13, 1924, and d 5 my copending application, Serial No. 750,-

033, filed Nov. 15, 1924.

In the application referred to a clockdriven telltale device is provided with means for designating the time of signal failure.

The signal device may he of the visual flashing type and the clock controlling devices are arranged to disregard the normal off periods of the flashing signal and only to come into action upon a sustained failure of the signal.

The present invention is directed toward the provision of means for effecting a con trol of the signal circuit by the clock mechanism which is used to designate the time of signal failures. Provision is made for turning on or off the current tothe flashing signal of the clock at certain times of the day and the arrangement is such that the clock is permitted to continue in operation after it has itself turned oif the supply of current to the signal devices. Under these conditions the telltale devices if function-v ing normally, without the intervening action of contacts 22, would tend to make a record of the time of the turning oft of the current and they would also stop the clock but in order to prevent such improper action provision is made for automatically suppressing the operation of the telltale devices and the stopping of the clock when the clock itself turns of? the signal circuit.

In the drawings 10 and 11 designate the current supply means. 12 is a signal ofthe flashing type, preferably having a thermostatic socket for flashing purposes. A delay relay device having its coil 14 disposed in the signal circuit 15 is preferably located in the signal supporting structure in position as indicated at 13. This relay device acts to keep magnet 16 energized so long as the signal 12 flashes in the usual manner. In the event that the signal 12. fails for a sustained period, the delay relay device will open the circuit to the magnet 16 at 16 permitting the deenergization of the magnet, whereupon a brake 17 is brought into cooperation with the clock escapement device 18 to stop the operation of the clock 19 and thereby desig-- nate the time of the signal failure by the "close the circuit to magnet 16 at 16 In order to turn on and ofi the supply of current to the signal device, I provide cam contact devices 21 and 22. The cam evices are preferably fixed upon a shaft 23 which makes one revolution each day. Contacts 21 open during the day time and close at night time tocontrol the supply of current to signal 12, through circuit 15. At the time contacts 21 open. provision must be made for continuing the supply of current to magnet 16; otherwise the lorake device 17 would stop the clock. For this purpose cam contacts 22 are arranged to close a circuit 2 1 from line 10 to the magnet wire 16 at such times when contacts 21 are open. In this way the magnet 16 is retained energized and the clock device continues in operation during the day time.

Two resistances 25 and 26 are disposed in lines 24 and 27 respectively. With contacts 22 closed resistance 25 is in series with magnet 16 and with contacts 21 closed and relay 14- energized resistance 26 is in series with the magnet. The resistances are small enough so that neither one alone cuts down the current flow through the magnet sufiiciently to cause it to release the brake mechanism. The circuit to the signal device 12 during thenight time when contacts 21 are closed extends from line 10 through contacts 21 and relay coil 11 to signal device 12 and thence directly to the other side of the line 11. Full line voltage is thus impressed across relay coil 14 and signal device 12 in series causing the latter to light and theformer to attract its armature to When contacts 22 close, just prior to the opening of contacts 21 a circuit is established mo-' mentarily from line 10 through contacts 22 and resistances 25 and 26 in series to the relay coil 14 and thence through the signal 12 to the other side of the line 11. The resistances 25 and 26 in series, however, cut down the current through this circuit sufiiciently to cause relay 14 to release its armature thus opening the circuit at 16 and extinguishing the signal light 12. The particular arrangement of these resistances then permits energization of magnet 16 regardless of the positions of contacts 21 and 22 but prevents energization of the signal 12 when contacts 21 are open.

What I claim is 1. In a signalling system, an intermittently operating signal, clock mechanism comprising means for indicating the time of stoppage thereof, means controlled by said mechanism for rendering said signal operative for predetermined protracted periods, means controlled by said signal for stopping said clock mechanism on sustained interruption of the operation of said signal during a normally operative period and means for maintaining said mechanism in operation during a normally inoperative period of said signal.

2. In a signalling system, an intermittently operative electric signal, an operating circuit therefor, a clock mechanism comprising circuit actuators for controlling said circuit to render said signal operative and inoperative during protracted periods, means controlled by said signal for stopping said clock mechanism on sustained interruption of signal operation during normally operative periods and means for disabling the clock stopping means during normally inoperative periods of said signal.

3. In a signalling system, an intermittently operative electric signal, an operating circuit therefor, a clock mechanism comprising means for indicating the time of stoppage thereof and circuit actuators for controlling said circuit to render said signal alternately operative and inoperative during protracted periods, means controlled by said signal for stopping said clock mecha nism on sustained interruption of signal operation during normally operative periods, and means for disabling the clock stopping means during normally inoperative periods of signal operation.

4. In a signalling system an electric signal, an operating circuit for said slgnal, clock mechanism comprising means for indicating the time of stoppage thereof and means for controlling said circuit to render said signal operative and inoperative during alternate periods, electromagnetic means for stopping said clock mechanism, a control circuit therefor, a circuit actuator for said lastnamed circuit controlled by said signal for holding said stopping means inoperative dur ing normally operative periods of said signal but permitting it to operate on interruption thereof and a circuit actuator controlled by said clock mechanism for holding said stopping means incperative during normally inoperative periods of said signal.

5. In asignalling system, an intermittently operative electric signal, an operating circuit therefor, clock mechanism comprising means for indicating the time of stoppage thereof and means for controlling said circuit to render said signal operative and inoperative during protracted alternate periods, electromagnetic means for stopping said clock mechanism, a control circuit therefor, a circuit actuator for said last named circuit controlled by said signal for holding said stopping means inoperative during normally operative periods and permitting it to operate on sustained interruptions only of said signal. and a circuit actuator for said last named circuit controlled by said clock mechanism for holding saidstopping means inoperative during normally inoperative periods of said signal.

6. In a signalling system, an electric signal, clock mechanism comprising electromagnetic means for stopping it, a circuit for said signal including means controlled by said clock mechanism for rendering said nal operative and inoperative during alternate periods, a circuit for said electromagnetic means in shunt with said first named circuit and comprising two parallel branches, one including a circuit actuator con trolled by said signal for activating said electromagnetic means to stop the clock mechanism on interruption of the operation of said signal during a normally operative period and the other including a circuit actuator controlled by said clock mechanism for holding said electromagnetic means inoperative during normally inoperative periods of said signal and means controlled by said last named actuator for preventing operation of said signal device on transition from an operative to an inactive signal period. I v

7. A signal system including a cloclr mechanism With provision for designating the time of signal failure by controlling the operation of said clock mechanism and means controlled by the aforesaid clock mechanism for automatically interrupting the signal operation at determined time periods said means having provision for rendering the controlling devices for the clock mechanism inoperative at such times when the, signal operation is interrupted by the clock itself.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

' JAMES W. BRYCE. 

